Hospitality HouseEstablished in 1989, the Hospitality House is a 23-bed shelter that closed abruptly last year. Maine State Housing agreed to allow the Knox County Homeless Coalition (KCHC) to reopen the hospitality house. Looking to open its doors in December 2013, the Coalition is in the process of furnishing the facility, hiring staff, and raising the necessary funds to sustain operations over an extended period. Unlike other shelters that require people to vacate during daytime hours, the Hospitality House will be open 24 hours a day and serve as a regional resource center for homeless and low-income individuals to seek support.

Vision For The Future

Supporting the self-sufficiency of individuals and families that have experienced homelessness motivates the Coalition network to establish a long-term vision for program development. This vision is based on the premise that investment in human capital through education and training, coupled with continued support, helps establish a strong foundation in which assets can be realized for economic growth and social change. Assets and the Poor (Sherraden 1991) introduced the concept of asset building as a means to eliminate poverty. Sherraden recognized that not only income but assets such as savings, a home, land, education and training, a small business, investments, and a retirement account are necessary for individuals to escape poverty. Without assets it would be difficult, if not impossible, for the poor to permanently achieve financial security, especially across generations. The Coalition sees the following: Asset Building InitiativeRecognizing that asset building is a long-term proposition, the Coalition looks to a number of strategies to eliminate barriers many low-income face when considering asset development. In order to establish, accumulate, and put to work assets that can be leveraged for economic gain a strong foundation in financial literacy, education and training, and innovative home ownership alternatives, such as cooperative housing, are necessary. The Coalition’s asset building initiative supports asset accumulation first through financial literacy and eventually through home ownershipApprentice Program

The Coalition looks to strengthen relationships with area businesses to establish an apprentice program for program participants to gain work experience, build capacity, and improve self-confidence. Opportunity exists in the hospitality, precision manufacturing, and service sectors to structure an apprentice program with assistance from the region Workforce Investment Board area Career Center, and regional adult/vocational education partner.Social EntrepreneurshipEstablishing a source of earned income associated with the Hospitality House, while at the same time providing supported employment and work ready opportunities for program participants, is an opportunity the Coalition has defined through social entrepreneurship. The Hospitality House’s 2.5-acre property is ideally situated to explore a social venture in agriculture. An initial assessment of the property points to a small nursery, community supported agriculture, or contract vegetable growing for area restaurants.